The arrival of bike sharing businesses like ofo could be damaging Cambridge’s historic cycling shops and “disrespecting the city”, it has been claimed.

There have been warnings that the distinctive yellow bikes could risk harming local cycle businesses.

City MP Daniel Zeichner has also written to the Department for Transport to express his disappointment that the city’s local politicians were not listened to when the company was allowed to come to the city.

Ofo, however, say they are working with the council.

Cllr Noel Kavanagh, Cambridgeshire County Council’s cycling champion, said: “I think I can imagine a company from outside Cambridge seeing the fact we are regarded as the cycling capital of the UK and thinking this is a good opportunity.

"But they have not taken into account that most of the population that cycles have their own bikes.

Ofo is running a three week trial in Cambridge

“We also have something like 40 cycle shops in Cambridge and a number of those have cycle rental as part of their revenue stream.

“We need to be supportive of local cycling businesses because, only recently, two of our traditional cycling shops have closed down.”

In Parliamentary questions and in a personal letter to the Transport Minister Chris Grayling, Mr Zeichner urged the Government to move swiftly to give local councils the powers to respond to the new situation, and set up a bike-parking licensing scheme.

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Mr Zeichner said: “The Government is leaving local councils, and local people powerless against companies with deep pockets but little understanding of how our communities work.

“Instead of just watching, the Government should be moving swiftly to give councils the powers to protect us. Bike-sharing schemes could be a great success, but not if they get off to a chaotic start – we need action to make sure it works for everyone.”

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A spokesman for ofo said feedback had, so far, been good, and that the company was working with the council to ensure a smooth operation.

The spokesman said: “We’re one week into the three week trial in Cambridge and so far we’ve seen really positive reactions. We’re communicating with the city and county council to ensure everyone is happy and we can make ofo benefit Cambridge and its residents.

“We have our ground team who are employed to maintain the bikes and ensure they are parked in the appropriate places. They are also available to answer any questions Cambridge residents have about ofo.

Spokesman Alex Myers with an ofo rental bike (Image: Keith Jones)

“We’re working with the council to pull together an end of trial report which we’ll be going through together. From there, we’ll be discussing the next best steps for us to take as a team.

“Only yesterday, it was confirmed that the UK Government must present ideas on how it will tackle air pollution on the 9th of May. Ofo wants to encourage more people in the UK to cycle and will help the UK Government tackle the issue of air pollution up and down the country.”

Cllr Kavanagh said: “In Cambridge, there is the issue of not having adequate parking spaces. To think they can come to Cambridge and leave bikes as part of a so-called trial is, in many ways, disrespecting the city of Cambridge.

“Politicians warned them the population here is already well served. Ofo have not thought this through. We are not a city that has a cycle famine, but we do not have the powers to stop them. It’s free enterprise.”

Jean Glasberg, cycling officer for the Federation of Cambridge Residents’ Associations (FeCRA) said: “Bike sharing sounds like a great idea, but the devil is in the detail with this scheme.

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“We already have a shortage of cycle parking, and ofo bikes can be left anywhere, which could cause big problems if they obstruct the pavement in busy shopping areas. They are bright yellow - a good thing in terms of being easy to locate, but less so in the impact they may have as highly visible street clutter in our historic centre.

“The council should be able to license hubs to rent bikes, otherwise it is likely to cause chaos."